Commission welcomes signature of the Treaty
of Lisbon and calls for its swift ratification.

Marking an important step in European integration,
the 27 Member States have today signed the Treaty of Lisbon. This marks a new
phase in providing the Union with a new treaty to respond to the challenges of
the 21st century. The Commission believes
that the new treaty provides significant new benefits for citizens and will
settle the institutional debate for the foreseeable future. In line with the
Barroso Commission's twin track approach this will allow for a greater emphasis
on the issues of concern to citizens such as jobs and growth, energy and climate
change and migration. The Commission calls on Member States to ratify the treaty
in good time for its entry into force on 1 January 2009. The Commission has
today launched a website on the Treaty that explains in an easy to read way the
policy innovations and institutional reforms contained in the new
Treaty

President of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso said, "This
treaty marks a watershed in the history of European integration. The Treaty of
Lisbon puts citizens at the centre of the European project. After six long years
of negotiation we can put institutional issues aside and concentrate all our
energy on delivering policy achievements for our citizens. I call on the Member
States to honour their commitments and seek to ratify the treaty in good time
for its entry into force on 1 January 2009".

"This new Treaty is good for European citizens", said Commission
Vice-President Margot Wallström, responsible for Institutional Relations
and Communication Strategy. It will enhance efficiency and give the Union a
single voice in external relations. People will have a greater say in European
policies through the reinforced powers of their directly elected representatives
in the European Parliament and the enhanced role of National parliaments. The
new "Citizens' initiative" will allow a million citizens to ask the Commission
to present a proposal. More democracy is fundamental for a Union based on
citizens' consent and will help to restore confidence and trust in the European
integration process".

The Treaty of Lisbon amends the current EU and EC treaties, without replacing
them. It will provide the Union with the legal framework and tools necessary to
meet future challenges and to respond to citizens' demands.

The Treaty of Lisbon will bring many benefits: the new treaty will ensure
European citizens have their say in European affairs and see their fundamental
rights set out in a charter. The EU will be better equipped to meet expectations
in the fields of energy, clime change, cross-border crime and immigration. It
will also be able to speak with one voice on the international scene.

Among key planned improvements are:

a more democratic and open and accountable Union – both citizens and
national parliaments will see decisions taken first hand as lawmaking
discussions open up to public scrutiny. Europeans will be given the opportunity
to influence proposed EU laws.

a more effective Union – through effective and streamlined
institutions. Including swifter, more consistent decision-making on law and
order issues, giving the EU greater ability to combat crime, terrorism and human
trafficking.

more rights for Europeans – the EU's values and goals will be set down
more clearly than ever before. And the charter of fundamental rights will be
given the same legal status as the EU treaties themselves.

a more prominent global actor – the EU will seek more coherence between
the different strands of its external policy, such as diplomacy, security, trade
and humanitarian aid. And the bloc will be given a single legal personality to
strengthen its negotiating power.

These improvements give the Union the capacity to deliver change, to make
Europeans more secure and prosperous and to open up their opportunities to shape
globalisation.

Background

The Treaty of Lisbon, drawn up by the 2007 Intergovernmental Conference
(IGC), was approved at the informal European Council on 18-19 October and will
be signed by the Member States on 13 December 2007. The signature of the Treaty
will be followed by the ratification process in all 27 countries. It is hoped
that the new Treaty will come into force on 1 January 2009.

he new website provides user friendly and easy-to-read information in all 23
official EU languages. On its pages, readers can discover how the new Treaty
will enable the EU to tackle the challenges of today's world and to promote more
efficiency, democracy and transparency within its institutions. Answers to the
most frequently asked questions are also available, accompanied by fact sheets
explaining theme-by-theme the main changes brought about by the Treaty.Visit
the Commission's new Treaty of Lisbon website at: